History and View of Kandy

Kandy, founded in 1476 by King Wickramabahu, grew from a semi‑independent territory under Kotte into a strong, fully independent kingdom protected by its mountainous terrain. It resisted foreign invasions, notably defeating the Portuguese at the Battle of Gannoruwa. After the last Sinhalese king, Vira Narendra Sinha, the Nayakkar dynasty ruled, with Kirti Sri Rajasinha revitalising Buddhism and developing major religious sites. The final king, Sri Vickrama Rajasinha, completed the Temple of the Tooth Relic and built Kandy Lake, but internal betrayal enabled the British takeover in 1815. His capture marked the end of the Kandyan Kingdom. Kandyan resistance continued under British rule and contributed to Sri Lanka’s independence in 1948.Read more